The season is entering crunch time for the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Bears. Each week carries playoff ramifications.
Coach Randy Crouch evaluated the Bears and their performance in the tough loss to Splendora last Friday. He was proud of the team’s effort against the Wildcats coming back from several deficits to take the lead and playing to the very last series.
The injury suffered in the Splendora game by Landon Bearden has him listed day-to-day this week. Ethan McCollum has not been released by doctors to suit up yet because of his knee injury. He is permitted to throw the ball and run some. Ethan McKay is out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Crouch stated, “What we have to do is get ready for a tough football game at Livingston.”
As the coach said this week LC-M is on the road to play Livingston. Crouch added the Bears need to put the loss to Splendora behind them and concentrate on the Lions. The coach said the team needs to hit the restart button and adopt the same passion and excitement it had at the beginning of the season.
The Lions use multiple sets on offense. They will be in two backs sometimes, other times they line up in the I-Formation, and then in the Spread.
Livingston has a wide receiver in Chris Washington and a running back in Joe Lewis that can take the ball to the house on any play from anywhere on the field. “They try to get the ball to those individuals, so that’s what we’re going have to really work and get prepared for this week,” Crouch summarized.
Coach Crouch looked at the defense the Lions use and that the Bears hope to exploit this Friday. Livingston is an even front team most of the time, but it does occasionally show an odd front formation. The Lions play zone and man-to-man in their secondary.
The two outside linebackers Jonathan Hammond and Jared Seagroves are the leaders on defense for Livingston. The Lions are improving week to week according to Coach Crouch. “We’ve got to get ready and get mentally prepared for a road game in the district that’s always very tough,” Crouch emphasized.
Livingston is winless on the season, but Crouch pointed out LC-M does not want to take anything for granted in this competitive district. He wants the Bears to focus on the Livingston Lions and what they do offensively and defensively. In addition, Coach Crouch is working with the Bears to correct their mistakes and continue to improve on their fundamentals.
A victory Friday could clinch a playoff berth for Little Cypress-Mauriceville. Crouch insists it will come down to preparation. “I tell our team all the time, the only thing you got in common with your opponent is time. How well you use your time and we’ve got to use it really wise this week to prepare for Livingston,” Crouch concluded.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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